January 03 2007: Author's Nonsense: My first chapter for this fiction of the new year and I think that things are really starting to come together and the plot is thickening. This chapter was a little harder to work through than the last few but I got myself to finally settle down and really sink my teeth into it.

Chapter 12: Official Questions

Kaiba was resisting the urge to pace as he waited with Kagome's family. He'd already called the necessary servants that would deal with the sudden new addiction to his home, he ended up offering the same safe-haven for Kagome's brother thought the mother was still too stubborn to accept the help he was willing to give, the fact that the paparazzi were going to already have a field day didn't really matter, he would have to call and have other guards follow the mother to keep her safe if the older lady wanted it or not.

When the doctor finally came in it was a battle to keep from throttling the old man for making them wait for so long, not realizing it hadn't been more than an hour.

"It went well." the man immediately explained to the worried looks sent his way. "The blood transfusion took and the wound seems as if it will heal rather well, we will need to keep her here for a couple days for observation but after that she will be free to return home. I wouldn't recommend she return to school through most of the week next week but she'll be able to go back after that. I figure you can pick up the homework that will be due in the meantime as she should be able to work on it even if she's not at the school; I wouldn't want her to fall behind because of this injury. The police are here and they want to speak to her but I asked that they speak to you instead and then talk to her tomorrow so she can rest, likely she'll be sleeping until then so I'd like for you all to leave her until morning as well."

"Will she still keep all the movement of her hand and arm?" the mother asked seriously. "Or are there any lingering effects we should know about."

"I can't say anything for certain. The bullet missed most major nerves but it's hard to tell with such things until she's recovered more than a day ma'am. It is a possibility." The doctor said somberly. "I'll let the nurses know to bring you some blankets and pillows if you wish to stay here in the waiting room. Try to stay well in the circumstances."

He left after the report and the police that were outside asked to speak to Kaiba first, he followed them out and into another doctor's office, the various degrees and awards mounted on the walls giving it away as such. He sat down, denying the water he was offered as he settled to answer questions about what had happened.

"The attacker struck you in your home?"

"Yes."

"Could you tell me where and when?"

"It was nearly ten, the clock inside read nine forty something when he left the kitchen. We were in the back walking between five or fifteen minutes when the shot went off and hit her shoulder, a second shot was fired but I was already pulling her closer so that I could try to cover her."

"You tried to protect her then?"

"As little as it helped."

"The second shot missed her?"

"To the best of my knowledge it grazed the back of her head but you'd have to ask the doctors." Kaiba wasn't as polite with that answer, annoyed that they were asking about things they must have known already if they saw the medical report.

"No reason to get short with us Mr. Kaiba. We're simply doing our job." The pair reminded with a frown.

"Then get on with it." the CEO snapped.

A small sigh was followed with the next question. "Why were you with Ms. Kagome Higurashi this evening?"

"We attended the symphony in the city this evening and we went to my home to dine afterward. I was giving her a tour of the gardens when she was attacked."

"Are you both involved?"

"No."

"Then why were you on a date?"

"It was our first and it wasn't clear yet as to if there would be more. I wouldn't call that involved."

"So you were dating Ms. Higurashi?"

"For the first time, yes."

"Why were you dating?"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes Mr. Kaiba, you aren't well known for being with women. The question is necessary."

"I won the date with her in a duel at the high school. I didn't even want to be involved but it was something a friend of hers thought would be funny to put together. You would need to ask her as to more details on that." Kaiba was starting to sound annoyed again. "Shouldn't you be out looking for the person that shot her?"

"We have more than two policemen on this case and please remain civil Mr. Kaiba, we wouldn't want to bring you in for unruly behavior." they threatened.

"I wouldn't want to forget that several thousand dollar check I donate to your ball every year." he snapped. "Get on with this without your empty threats!"

The two exchanged looks and the same one that had been speaking the same time continued as he figured a little rough language was worth the money donated to the city police station. "I suppose that you are rather bothered by all this so I'll move along. Do you know why anyone would want to shoot Ms. Kagome or yourself?"

"Several organizations and rivals would likely try to kill me, they have in the past. The best thought I can give you as to anyone that would want to go after Kagome is a rather insane girl named Nicole Victoria whom I have a restraining order against. The girl I try to avoid when possible but she seems to be under the impression that she owns me and took on a stalker role for a while during school last year."

"And you think this Nicole did it?"

"She is a possibility. Though I figure she would hire someone as opposed to doing it herself. Her father is the principle at the high school myself and Kagome attend. He allowed her to return this year knowing it was against her restraining order to do so. I was going to call the police tomorrow morning about the disturbance because I didn't realize that the girl was so obsessed she might consider something like this."

"I see. And do you believe it could have been someone after you that simply missed?"

"If the first shot had just been a miss and the second hadn't been aimed at her as well I would probably think so." he replied a little quieter, sobered some by all the reminders that he could have taken better precautions. "I don't have a build or height anything similar to Kagome, even in poor light we wouldn't be mistaken for one another."

"All right." the officers nodded to each other and then Kaiba. "Don't leave town as you were there at the time you are a suspect until we learn more of what happened. We would also appreciate if you would take your private investigators off of this case but we can't force you unless they withhold any evidence they might find. Thank you for your time."

"Finally." he moved away from them without being told further that he could after the last sentence. Digging out his cell phone to find out just what the higher priced men had found out, if it wasn't more than the cops he would be finding himself some new employee's. He was paying for the best after all - not what he could get for free from the city.

The cops sighed between themselves and realized why the youth had such a bad reputation at the office before they called in Kagome's mother next. Kaiba headed down to buy himself something to drink from a vending machine as he talked to the people on his phone. From the camera's and some other more advanced than usual technology they had figured out that the shooter had been a woman and likely from the way she moved, posture, and looks she was in her late twenties or early thirties. They couldn't get an exact facial from the mask she wore, but the eyes they managed to get a shot of, and with the tightness over the mask they were using his advanced security system to currently work out what she should work like. Afterward they would use the government database to cross reference any already known criminals that it could be, concentrating on any known hit men (or women in this case) first.

He finally accented to wait a little longer and not to fire them as they seemed much further along than the cops so far. Mostly thanks to the systems he'd created but at least it was work he didn't have to do himself. He bought himself a bottled water and returned to the waiting room after the long conversation to see that Kagome's mother had returned and the cops were taking a turn with the brother.

Scene Switch

Kagome realized it wasn't a dream when she woke with the dull pain in her shoulder and the white of the hospital glaring at her in the midday light. She smiled weakly when her mother grabbed and squeezed her hand and then took some water to wet her lips and mouth, dry despite the fluids running into her left arm. Raising her brows when she realized that Kaiba was taking up residence on her other side, looking at her a little less seriously than usual. Which said enough about his feelings to the youth, she had to be glad he cared enough to come to the hospital.

"Hey mom…Seto." Kagome greeted. "Thanks for sitting with me…but I'll be okay."

Her mother wrapped her in a gentle hug, careful to avoid the shoulder but otherwise holding her tightly elsewhere, though the jarring of her body still stung she held in a show of pain for her mom's sake.

"You scared me Kagome." the mother admonished quietly. "Try not to do that anymore. But you'll be okay now…I'm going to go tell your brother he can come in and see you now."

"Thanks mom…" Kagome whispered back, tearing a bit for her mother's sake and glancing after her as she left. "Hey Kaiba. Sorry I went and got shot…guess I ruined the evening."

"No, the idiot that attacked you did." Kaiba replied with a shake of his head. "I am tracking down who did it as we speak, the police are working on it as well of course but they probably won't get as far as I do."

"Don't know if I should worry or show appreciation." Kagome tear dropped a bit. "It won't help if you put yourself in danger Seto."

"I can't let them get away with hurting you." He said simply, his tone allowing no argument. "Not something you need to concern yourself with. Until the person is behind bars I agreed to keep you at my manor while you recover and raise security so no one can repeat the attack."

"Wait?" Kagome blinked. "Your house? That mansion? You don't have to do that…I'm sure my wound will heal at home."

"No argument there but whoever tried last night might try again if you aren't protected." He explained bluntly. "I can't just let you wander around like that while it's my fault someone is after your life."

"Oh…" her heart jumped a little, as the reader showed the rate rising. Fear taking a hold as she realized that someone was still out there and trying to kill her, maybe she wouldn't be as all right as she said when she woke if she wasn't careful. "I guess that I have to thank you for the kind actions then."

Kaiba didn't get a chance to answer before Souta rushed in and stopped, smiling when he saw his sister awake. "Kagome! I was worried about you! You got shot! Were you afraid? Did it hurt?"

She had to smile when the questions poured from her brother, his way of unconsciously lightening her heart made her a little less afraid. "I did and yes it hurt and yes I was afraid."

"Souta!" the mother's cold tone stopped the next line of questions before it started and he seemed a little nervous.

"Well I'm really glad you're okay, Mr. Kaiba was awesome for donating that blood for you. Otherwise you could still be sick." he was a little clueless as usual as he announced the information with a grin.

"Seto…" she glanced back to the youth though he was looking out the window on the other side of him now. "…you did that for me?"

"Don't thank me Higurashi." Seto quipped. "You dying would have had people invading my home far worse than they would without a homicide. It was to save myself the heartache of that situation."

She had to smirk at the cold response despite the fact that Souta and her mother looked a little shocked at the cruel answer to her question. "Seems I have a lot to thank you for Seto. I'll make it all up to you somehow…well…I guess I can't really. You saved my life twice last night…but I can certainly do my best to try."

She smirked as he rolled his eyes before her mother cut in to stop any other mean words the man could offer her daughter.

"Well, we should let you rest and get some food Kagome, we'll be back in a while. Come on Souta."

"But we just got to come in." the boy whined before his mother reached for his ear and he ducked out. "Fine fine…let me guess, go get a soda?"

"Please dear?" the mother smiled at her son's antics, nodding to her daughter before she followed the youth out of the room. As intimidating an aura as he put on she had offered the greatest kindness' to him and wouldn't be frightened by one of her daughter's classmates. Once Souta was out of the waiting area and they were back inside she turned on him. "Why would you talk to my daughter like that? She deserves better after she got shot at your home."

"Don't give me speeches Ms. Higurashi." Kaiba returned neutrally. "I am not your son and I am not going to act different around her. That would make her feel worse than if I treated her kindly. I won't treat her another way because she was in an accident. It doesn't make her a different person."

"You…always talk to her that way?" the mother was a little confused but started to notice how similar his attitude could be to Inuyasha's. Seto Kaiba might not have the nifty soft dog ears that she could fiddle with but he certainly had fine points. He had saved her daughter twice and while his personality could be poor sometimes he had a much kinder heart than he wanted anyone to realize, she had to admit her daughter picked odd boys to get crushes on but she could do worse for herself. She left the conversation there, not wanting to cause more problems, but wise enough to realize what was really going on once she'd had a chance to really think about it. "Well…I'm sorry then…it's in a mother's nature to attack people that could be a threat to her offspring before thinking about it. I still completely appreciate all you've done for her."

"Oh I don't want to hear it." Kaiba raised a hand to blow it off. "I just don't want a law suit on my hands and if I take care of the bills then it makes it easier on me in the future."

The mother smirked some and shook her head. He really was very similar to her last boyfriend, maybe the whole thing would help her eventually get over her older friends enough that she could start to live again. She headed out to find Kouga and Kaiba sighed to himself; "I think Mokuba is starting to get to me."

Scene Switch

Her two days in the hospital passed without difficulty and the doctors decided that she would retain all movement in her arm and hand once the wound had fully healed; it would take a long time but she'd been very lucky to not have been more heavily injured. Her room at the immense estate was as big as most of her house but she hadn't been allowed to have a bedroom with a window or balcony because of the problems. She'd miss the sunlight for a while but she had to admit she understood why it was necessary after the hour or so fit she'd thrown that Seto wouldn't listen to. She missed being able to 'sit' the person aggravating her so deeply.

Mokuba seemed sad about what happened to her but very glad to have her and her brother there. She worried about her mom but was glad to know that Kaiba had at least taken precautions to have her watched and followed, glad to have him for a friend despite the problems and pain that happened to go with it. It was going to be an interesting visit if nothing else, she had been told that her old friends from high school wanted to visit her after the problem. It would be nice to see them after the crazed new life she'd been experiencing lately, her hands wringing as she waited for them, wondering who all would be there and what they would say to her.

She had to blink in shock when Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi brought Hojo in with them, she hadn't expected to see the very old flame coming to visit her.

End Chapter

Whew, that one was a little harder to write but I wanted to keep things moving at the end without having some extended hospital stay…thus why I tossed in the last couple paragraphs to explain where I wanted the next chapter to go without having to actually explain it in the next chapter. Have fun reading and thanks for doing so.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Darkened Purity - It wasn't either, poor Kagome.

Swissrobin - Well, not daily most of the time. That was because I was on holiday…though I'm still trying to update whenever I can.

Thiefqueengirl - I might throw in some of the other characters yet but I wanted to keep it pretty set to the couple to develop the two before I threw in any other side characters or otherwise early problems might push them apart as opposed to drawing them together more. It might change now that the pair I wanted to put in as the romantic 'leads' are more settled. At least enough that other problems won't just be blown off by the cold Seto Kaiba.

1s2MomoChan - Thank you. I'm glad you like it so much. I update when I can.